A seismic survey contract awarded by Statoil to Geco-Prakla for 1999 ranks as the biggest assignment of its kind off Norway this year.
"We'll be shooting 1,200 square kilometres of three-dimensional seismic in the Gullfaks and Sleipner areas of the North Sea and over Smørbukk in the Norwegian Sea," explains Erik Håvarstein, head of the geology/geophysics department.
Geco Topaz began work on a combined three- and four-dimensional survey on Gullfaks last week. This vessel will then move to Åsgard to shoot seismic over the Smørbukk area.
The ship is considered an efficient unit, equipped to tow two airguns and up to eight hydrophone streamers. It also carries the most modern satellite navigation system available.
In addition to its work programme off Norway, Statoil is collaborating with Phillips Petroleum on a two-dimensional survey covering roughly 300 square kilometres on the Greenland continental shelf this summer.
Last year, a total of 5,000 square kilometres of seismic were shot for the group.